A café that supports the lifesaving work of the Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) has been shortlisted for an award at the inaugural Welsh Café Awards 2019.

Caffi HEMS, based at Caernarfon Airport in North Wales, has been shortlisted in the best not-for-profit category. They will find out if they have been crowned winners at an elegant ceremony at The Exchange Hotel in Cardiff on Tuesday 23 July.

A café that supports the lifesaving work of the Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) has been shortlisted for an award at the inaugural Welsh Café Awards 2019.

Caffi HEMS, based at Caernarfon Airport in North Wales, has been shortlisted in the best not-for-profit category. They will find out if they have been crowned winners at an elegant ceremony at The Exchange Hotel in Cardiff on Tuesday 23 July.

The Welsh Café Awards event is run by Creative Oceanic but voted for by the Welsh public, who experience the joy of a good coffee daily when they get their morning cup or a hot beverage in the afternoon to keep the energy going.

The event will gather top baristas, coffee specialists and representatives of local cafés that have transformed the process of making coffee to an art. It promises to be a memorable night dedicated to the country’s café industry that employs hundreds of people, enhancing the prosperity of communities across Wales.

Caffi HEMS is run by WAA and its name is inspired by the Charity’s role in the field of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). It is open all year round, with volunteers and staff serving a wide range of delicious food and snacks. Located near the beautiful Gwynedd coastline at Dinas Dinlle, Caffi HEMS offers spectacular panoramic views at the foothills of Snowdonia National Park. Every penny raised at the café goes towards the lifesaving work of Wales Air Ambulance.

Lynne Garlick, WAA North Wales Fundraising Manager, said: “It is an honour to be nominated by the public as one of the best not-for-profit cafés in Wales. The café really is an important source of income for us, as we receive no direct government or national lottery funding and rely solely on the Welsh public to helps us reach the yearly target of £6.5 million. We would like to thank our loyal customers for their unwavering support and look forward to the awards ceremony later this month.”

Launched on St David’s Day 2001, Wales Air Ambulance is the national air ambulance service for Wales. The Charity operates four aircraft from bases in Caernarfon, Welshpool, Cardiff and Llanelli, meaning the helicopters are no more than twenty minutes away from anywhere in the country. Each year, Wales Air Ambulance attends on average 2,500 missions and since 2001 has responded to over 30,000 calls.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Café Awards 2019 said: “Coffee is the most popular drink worldwide and the trade values billions of pounds. According to Roast and Post, £1Bn was spent on coffee in Britain last year.

“As a result, the Welsh café industry has seen massive growth over the past few years with many new coffee shops entering the sector, increasing the competition.

“This ceremony aims to acknowledge those who have played a great role in making this sector one of the most profitable industries in this country.

“Undoubtedly, there are coffee lovers in Wales who look for not just a coffee, but a true masterpiece. These finalists reflect those who put so much effort into providing high-quality food, snacks and hot beverages to customers across the country.

“We would like to congratulate everyone for being shortlisted and we wish all finalists the best of luck.”

Alongside the not-for-profit category, a wide range of other accolades are waiting to be presented to the deserving professionals and establishments, including Café Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Coffee Shop, Most Welcoming Café of the Year, Best New Café and many more.